Rent increases and missed payments
What support is available for landlords where their tenants are in receipt of benefits for housing, particularly where they may have been missed rental payments?
Many tenants who are in receipt of housing benefits will now have transitioned to payment through Universal Credit. is available on the DWP website, including information about . Through these arrangements, if you have tenants who may struggle to pay their rent or are in rent arrears, you can apply for their housing costs to be paid to you directly in certain circumstances.
For tenants who are in receipt of Housing Benefit through the Council and live in private rented accommodation, this payment is usually made directly to the tenant, who should in turn arrange payment to their landlord. There are circumstances where direct payment of housing benefit to landlords may be applicable, and you should contact the Council’s Benefits team at BenefitsGeneralEnquiries@argyll-bute.gov.uk or on 01546 605512 if you would like further information around this.
Further advice on can be found on the MyGov.Scot website.
What do we need to do as landlords if we are considering raising rent levels?
The MyGov.Scot website includes useful guidance around the process that landlords should follow when , including the notice period applicable and how often you are able to increase rents.
There is also a useful tool on the website which allows you to for private residential tenancies. There is guidance available for all tenancy types and you should ensure that you are following the correct guidance, as the process is different for each tenancy type.
This guidance also provides details of what to do if your tenant does not agree with the rent increase.
